< NEWS

Cutters Fans Won't See Team Until May

March 23, 2010

Courtesy of the Mackay Daily Mercury

Mackay Cutters supporters won’t get to see their team in action until May after cyclone damage to the Junior Rugby League Grounds forced this weekend’s match against Redcliffe to be relocated.

The round three Queensland Cup clash was scheduled for the South Mackay venue but Cyclone Ului’s impact has led to the game being transferred to Dolphin Park.

“It’s a bit disappointing from a spectator’s point of view but it’s the smart decision,” STM Cutters operations manager Jamie McDonald said after QRL officials gave the nod of approval to shift the contest.

“The downside is that people won’t get to see Mackay play at home for another month but we need to make sure the grounds are repaired,” McDonald said.

“Redcliffe got on the front foot and called us about it first,” he said of the relocation. In return, Mackay will host Redcliffe on June 20.

The Cutters next home game isn’t scheduled until May 1 with the team expected to play seven of their next eight games on the road.

The team’s fans have only had one chance to see them play this year – a trial against Redcliffe at Shark Park last month.

The Cutters were scheduled to play their first home game of the season last weekend but the match against Easts was called off due to the threat of Cyclone Ului.

The cyclone caused the scaffolding at the JRL Grounds to shift about a metre and it may need to be redone. Sheets have come off the roof and are strewn over the fields. The timekeeper’s box fell over and trees were uprooted.

Yesterday, power was still out and there was water in the roof of the clubhouse balcony.

“Everything can be repaired but it’s just about timing,” McDonald said before indicating it could be weeks before the ground was fully operational.

He said this weekend’s game would not be transferred to another local venue, saying other Mackay and district fields had also suffered as a result of the cyclone and there were sponsorship arrangements with the scaffolding at the JRL Grounds.

< NEWS